Vietnam sends diplomatic note protesting China's imposition of fishing ban in the East Sea

Ms. Pham Thu Hang emphasized:

"Vietnam's stance on China's fishing ban in the East Sea is consistent and has been affirmed many times. Vietnam demands that China respect Vietnam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago as well as its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over Vietnam's maritime zones established in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), respect the rights of Vietnamese fishermen to legally operate in Vietnam's maritime zones and maritime zones beyond national jurisdiction in accordance with international law, especially UNCLOS 1982; not take actions that complicate the situation, and contribute to maintaining peace, stability, and law-based order at sea in the East Sea."

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang. (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Previously, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Sanya City, China unilaterally announced a fishing ban in the East Sea, from 12:00 on May 1 to 12:00 on August 16 in the sea area from latitude 12° North to latitude 26°30' North (including the Gulf of Tonkin).

According to Vietnam News Agency, in response to the above situation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has sent an official dispatch to the People's Committees of coastal provinces and cities, requesting that the provinces notify fishermen about China's temporary fishing ban at sea. At the same time, it affirmed that China's unilateral temporary fishing ban in the sea area with the above-mentioned scope has violated Vietnam's sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and interests in the East Sea and is invalid.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment recommends that provinces and cities encourage our fishermen to stay at sea and produce normally within Vietnam's waters and instruct fishermen to organize into groups, teams, and groups when going to work to support each other at sea; raise vigilance against China's possible tough actions, even arrests, of fishing vessels operating in the waters and during the above mentioned time; promptly notify competent authorities of violations by foreign fishing vessels in Vietnam's waters.

Provinces and cities direct competent authorities to strengthen monitoring of fishing activities of fishing vessels in sea areas through the fishing vessel monitoring system (VMS), take measures to warn fishing vessels when necessary and especially strictly manage the departure/arrival of fishing vessels operating during this time.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/viet-nam-trao-cong-ham-phan-doi-trung-quoc-ap-dat-lenh-cam-danh-bat-ca-tren-bien-dong-213553.html